The internal investigative hearing had no effect whatsoever on Zhou Quan.
He continued going to work as usual and rested without worry when it was time to rest.
The Police Force's publicity department also took a very firm stance in its response, quoting Zhou Quan directly.
Outsiders had no business telling frontline commanders how to act.
After all, the Police Force had made no mistakes this time, nor had it violated Hong Kong Island's laws or any of the Police Force's regulations.
If people with ulterior motives could still pick holes in their conduct under these circumstances, where would that leave the Police Force's authority?
Ultimately, the Police Force was an institution of force, through and through.
If anyone dared to come along and interfere with the Police Force's frontline operations, how could it still deter Hong Kong Island's criminals?
Whenever a crime occurred, they might as well simply publish criticism and condemnation in the newspapers.
Frontline police officers were risking their lives to carry out their duties. If people with ulterior motives were still smearing and attacking them from the rear, morale within the Police Force might well collapse.
What was more, the person being questioned and smeared was one of the Police Force's star officers.
In the minds of the vast majority of frontline officers, especially the young blood who had joined the Police Force in recent years, Zhou Quan was something of a standard-bearer.
If even that standard-bearer could be smeared at will, it would seriously damage the enthusiasm and confidence of young officers.
For both institutional and personal reasons, the Police Force would not show the slightest weakness this time.
In fact, apart from those with ulterior motives fanning the flames, the vast majority of Hong Kong Island's residents still maintained considerable trust in the Police